Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station
Located on the west coast of Ireland, the Atmospheric Research Station at Mace Head (Carna, County Galway) is unique in Europe, offering westerly exposure to the North Atlantic ocean (clean sector, 180º through west to 300º). Meteorological records show that on average, approximately 50% of the air masses arrive at the station from this clean sector, presenting an ideal opportunity to study clean background air of the Northern Hemisphere westerlies and its atmospheric composition in terms of both Greenhouse Gases and Short-Lived Climate Forcers, while easterly air masses enable evaluation of a continental outflow and at times, polluted air outflow.
Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station has one of the longest outstanding datasets of aerosol measurements in the world, and the is the longest such dataset in Europe.
The site location, at 53º 20′ N, 9º 54′ W, is in the path of the mid-latitude cyclones which frequently traverse the North Atlantic.

Featured Projects
Aerosol Research
Posted on 5 August 2024Microphysical and physico-chemical properties of atmospheric aerosols. A wide range of aerosol particle sizing and mass measurement equipment is used to study
Continue readingClimate-Ecosystem Interaction
Posted on 5 August 2024Climate-Ecosystem Interaction Research Theme Coordinator: Dagmar Stengel
Continue readingAir Quality
Posted on 5 August 2024Air Quality research and monitoring activities in C-CAPS covers indoor and outdoor air pollution, urban and regional-scale air quality, and air quality…
Continue reading
Latest News
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RTE – Tracking climate change with cleanest air in Europe – Nov 2021
Posted on 3 July 2024Continue readingTracking climate change with ‘cleanest air in Europe’ Updated / Friday, 5 Nov 2021 07:43 Link to original RTE article https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/1103/1257663-tracking-climate-change/ By Eleanor Mannion A remote outpost on the rugged west coast of Ireland continues to play a key role in tracking climate change. Researchers at Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station near Carna, Co Galway monitor global […]
Upcoming Events
26 Jun, 25
The sites’ identity is centred on delivering world class research and teaching in our 3 main mission areas:
- Mission 1: Long-term Time-series and baseline Trend Monitoring,
- Mission 2: Key-process Research,
- Mission 3: Education & Training.
Further details are available here.
Coming soon